Machine for treating hides, skins, and leather



May 4 1926.

1,583,722 A. H. KEHRHAHN MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS, AND LEATHER Fild Dec. 17, 1925 lNvE 'roR" Patented May 4, 1926.

s-e av Go FY warren v STATES Pa -rear ori ice;

ALEXANDER HEINRICH KEl-IRHAHN; or nnAnKronT-on-transient; e-nniviniw,A's:

srenon *ro'rH-n TURN-ER 'TANNING'MA'GHINERY COMPANY, or PORTLAND, MAINE,

A CORPQRATION OF IVI'AINE.

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS, AND LEAII-IEIBt;

Application filed December ToaZZ QLJIOWZ it may concern: 3

Be it known that I, Aiinxiirnnn II. HAHN, a citizen of Germany, resid ng an Frankfort-on-the-llain, Germany, have in Vented certain" Improvements in Machines for Treating Hides, Skins, and Leather, of

which the following description, in conned tion with the accompanying drawings, is specification, like reference characters onthe drawings indicating like parts in the several-figures;

This invention relates to machines for treating hides, skins, leather and other pieces of work and is illustrated as embodle'd in a machine designed for performing unhairing and scudding operations, although in various aspects the invention is not hmited to embodiment in machines of the 1111s-,

trated type or to use in performing the particular operations just referred to. I

One well-known type of machine for performing operations such as those above mentioned has been provided with a bed roll of relatively small diameter employed to supportthe work against the thrust of a tool, thechief disadvantage of such a construction for certain classes of op'eration'bein'g' found in the fact that the work is presented to the tool on atoo narrow work supporting surface for the best results. In other-prior constructions such as that of 'fth'e wellknownLeidgen machine of the type shown in United States Letters Patent no. 713,118, granted Nov. 11,1902, upon application of i N. Leidgen, a broad band orbolster is Utlliy ed in presenting the work to 'thetooLItlieQ result being unsatisfactory in. some cases; since the resilient bolster is in silence-sea too soft in its action;

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of" this invention to provide an improved ma Kiarrnsupport the bolster along a line extending transverselyiof the bolst'er'so that a narrow 17,192a' Serial N0.-76,O11.

portionrof the curved surface of the work operating tool, and a yielding bed r'ol'l t'o strip portion ofthe bolster is pressed firmly but yieldingly' against the operating tool, whereby the advantan'es of both a bolster and a yielding bed roll are obtained without the disadvantages of'either when used alone.

By the employment of both a bolster which wraps around a substantial portion. of' the" cylindrical surface of the tool, and a bed roll for pressing a narrow strip portion ofthe" bolster against the tool, there is securedan arrangement by, which a relatively broad strip portion on the work maybe enga the tool with a' yielding pressure sinlicie'nt to cause effective operation of the tool-and by which anarrowerstrip portion of the work is subsequently engaged by e the same tool at ahigherpressure to insure the de'- sired results upon portions of the. work whichmay have vresisted the tool while Working under less pressure.

In the illustrated machiie an endless bolt ster travels over rollers and-is pressed'yieldingly against a work treating cylindrical tool by means of a pneumatic bed roll which is itself freely rotatable thereby lessening friction between itself" and the bolster.

Means is provided for backing thepneumatic I bed-roll and forcontrolling the pressure which t exerts against the bolster, the said means comprising, in the. preferred con? struction, a cylindrical member adapted to press upon the bed rollthrouglr contact with the bolster, the cylin'drical backing member being also rotatable to lessen friction and wear between itself andthe bolster.

the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 illustrates an in section of machine disclosing one embodiment of the invention; and p i v Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in section showing a n'iodi'fication of the intention.

In the machineillustrated in Fig, 1, there is mounted ina framed a pair of arms (3 pivoted at 8 toswin'g'between thesolid' line Other features of the invention and novel combinations of parts Wlll be described in the detailed specification and pointed out in end view partlyv roller 18 which may be an idler roller or power driven as the requirements of the work and of the operations to be performed thereon 'may make necessary or desirable.

; Other bearings are provided at the upper ends of the arms 6 for a shaft 20 to which is secured a roller 22 power driven by means not shown but which may comprise any of the well-known sets of gear mechanism common in leather working machines. Passing around both of the rollers 18 and 22 is an endless bolster 24 which may be of rubber, or a rubber composition, with a canvas backing to secure a durable yet flexible member with a smooth firm surface for supporting the work while it is being operated upon. Carried by the arms 6 are a pair of guide members 26 and 28 which, together with adjacent portions of the bolster 24 form a housing for a pneumatic bed roll 30 of'relatively small diameter and freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis, thereby minimizing friction between the bolster and the bed roll. Upon inspection of Fig. 1, it will be observed that the bed roll 30 is located within the endless bolster 24, and between the upper and lower guide members 26, 28. WVithin the housing thus formed the bed roll is supported to rot-ate freely about a longitudinal axis which is not fixed since the bed roll is floating, that is, freely movable, within the walls of its housing. Means (not shown) is provided for controlling the degree of inflation of the pneumatic bed roll 80, such means being of any well known construction. Means is provided for furnishing a backing for the pneumatic bed roll 30, the said means in the construction shown comprising a relatively large roller 32 mounted to turn idly upon a shaft 34 carried by bearings in upright levers, one of which is shown at 36 pivoted at its lower end upon the bracket 9. At the upper end of each lever 36 there is connected a link 38 by means of threaded nuts 40 adjustable upon a threaded portion of the rod 38 and operative to hold the lever 36 in adjusted relation to the rod 38. At its other end. the rod 38 is pivoted at 42 to a portion of the arm 6. 7 It will be understood that pressure to be appliedto the bed roll 30 by means of the backing roller 32 may be adjusted as required by proper manipulation of the bolts 40 upon the two similar rods 38. Since the bolster 24 should run with relative freedom between the bed roll 30 and its backing roller 32 the latter, as well as the bed roll, is made to turn freely upon its axis. When the backing roller 32 is adjusted toward the bed roll 30 the latter is pressed tothe left in Fig. 1 to afford greater pressure on the work during operationof the machine.

For operating upon the work there is provided in the construction shown a bladed cylinder 50 secured to a shaft 52 rotatably mounted in the frame 4 of the machine and arranged to be driven from any well-known source of power (not shown).

For feeding the work past the bladed cylinder 50, there is provided feeding means comprising a pinch roll 54 mounted upon a shaft 56 journaled in the upper part of the machine frame 4 and arranged to be driven by means (not shown). hen the work supporting means comprising the rollers 18, 22 and the bolster 24 is inwork receiving position indicated by the dot and dash line 6*, a piece of work indicated at 60 is thrown over the'bolster 24 so that it hangs suspended between the bladed cylinder 50 and the adjacent surface of the bolster 24. Upon starting the machine the toggles 10 are straightened to move the work supporting parts, including the bolster 24, to the left in Fig. 1 into the position indicated by the solid line showing of the bolster and its supporting rollers 18 and 22. WVhen these work supporting parts move to the position shown, the work is brought into firm contact with the pinch roller 54 which is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow. Since the upper roller 22 is power driven to rotate in the direction the reverse of the pinch roll 54, it follows that the piece of work 60 will be fed out of the machine toward the operator who stands at the right in Fig. 1, and that during this movement of' the work it is operated upon by the bladed cylinder 50. The bolster 24, since it laps around a considerable portion of the periphery of the bladed cylinder 50, presents a relatively broad strip of the surface of the work against the bladed cylinder and this arrangement it especially effective for such operations as unhairing and scudding operations upon hides and skins. While the bolster 24 causes the presentation, under a yielding pressure, of a relatively widestrip on the work to the operation of the cylinder, it is desirable to provide for a firmer backing of the work along a narrower strip to insure adequate operation of the blades of the bladed tool, and this is accomplished through the operation of the relatively small pneumatic bed roll 30 which backs the bolster along a relatively narrow strip where the work receives the greatest thrust of the bladed cylinder. While the pressure is greater where the bolster is backed by as, where the bladed cylinder co-operates insure the desired operation of the blades of the working tool. In unhairing operations, for instance, most, if not all, of the loose hair will be removed by the bladed cylinder in co-operation witha portion of the bolster at the time above the bed roll 30 where the bladed cylinder operates upon a relatively broad strip of the work, where with that part ofthe bolster which is directly backed by the bed roll 30, the portion of the work thus operated upon at. a given time is a relatively narrow strip which receives a greater pressure in the thrust of the bladed tool,- thus insuring perfectwork by the bladed tool without the danger of injury to the work, since this part of the work support is also yielding. In scudding operations, the loose dirt and epithelial cells are removed by the bladed cylinder operating on a relatively broad strip of therwork supported by the bolster above the bed roll. Then the more resist-- ant portions of the surface dirt and send are removed by the bladed cylinder in cooperation with the bolster along the narrow strip where the latter is backed by the bed roll 30. By reasonof the adjustment secured for the backing roller 32, the tension on both the bolster 24 and on the pneumatic bed roll 30 maybe adjusted to suit requirements. t will be understood that the bolster 24 moves with the power driven roller 22 since the roller and bolster cooperate with the pinch roll 5% in feeding the work from the machine and past the bladed cylinder 50. It follows that all portions of the working surface of the bolster are presented in succession to the thrust of the cylinder while the latter is operating on the work. Hence, the bolster is worn evenly so that whatever adjustment of the pressure is effected through proper manipulation ofthe nuts i0 on the rod 38, all parts of the bolster are equally suited to the new working conditions effected by the adjustment. Since the wear on the bolster is equally distributed over a relatively large surface the bolster is relatively long-lived. For the same reason, adjustment for pressure with respect to the cylinder is required only at infrequent intervals.

' In the modified construction shown in Fig. 2- of the drawings the bladed cylinder is arranged to co-operate with a stationary bolster ()2 which has its longitudinal edges securely attached to side faces of the U- shaped bed roll support 64:. In this form of the invention the bolster 62 is of a. size and so arranged as to provide a concave strip portion thereof pressed firmly portion which contacts with 'aconsiderztble area of the periphery of the bladed cylinder 50 and is backed by a. pneumatic bed roll 30 of the same construction as that .disclosed in Fig. '1. For adjusting the tension of the bed roll 30 and for controlling the pressure thereof upon an intermediate portion of the bolster 62, there is provided a pressure plate 66 arranged to be moved adjustably by means of screw threaded -adjusting members '68 adapted to. contact with the rear face ofthe pressure plate :66 and to be adjusted in a wclhknown manner and to be secured inadjusted position by lock nuts '50, it being understood that there are a numher of the adjusting members 68 for securing.

proper adjustment of the pressure plate 66 along its length. When. the work presenting surface of the bolster 62 has become worn, the bolster maybe readily removed andpneplaced by 'a fresh bolster;

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim as new ant desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United S tates is1- 1. In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a tool for operating on the work, an endless bolster for supporting the work against the thrust of the tool, means co -operating with the bolster for engaging the work .to feed it past'the tool, and a penumatic bed roll for yieldingly pressing the bolster against the tool. V

2. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work,

a tool havin'g blades for operating on the work, an endless "bolsterfor supporting the workagai-nst the thrust ofthe tool, rollers over which the bolster passes, means for driving one ofthe rollers, a roll co opcrating with the bolster for engaging the'work to feed it past the'tool, and a relatively small pneumatic bed ,roll for pressing the bolster along a relatively n rrow strip against a portion of the tool. I 3. In a machine for operatingupon-hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a bladed cylinder and work presenting means relatively movable from work receiving position into co-ope'ative relation with respect to each other, said work presenting means comprising a pair of supporting members, a bolster passing around the supporting members, and a bed roll back of a portion of the bolster, thearrangementbeing such that the bolster-is adapted to embrace :a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of the bladed cylinder and' has a narrow against the cylinderby the bed'roll. i

4C. In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a cylindrical tool having a blade for operating on the work, work presenting means comprising a pair of supporting rollers, an

the tool at one side of the bed roll.

5. In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leatherand other like pieces of work, a tool for operating on the work, a bolster for supporting the work against the thrust of the tool, a freely movable bed roll for yieldingly pressing the bolster against the tool, and a housing for the bed roll having a side open to the bolster and adapted to support the bed roll in contact with the bolster for movement therewith.

6. In a machinefor operating upon hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a tool having blades for operating on the work, a travelling bolster for supporting the work against the thrust of the tool, rollers over which the bolster passes, a freely rotatable bed roll for pressing the bolster against a portion of the tool, and a housing for the bed roll having a side open to the bolster and adapted to support the bed roll in contact with the bolster for rotation therewith. V

7. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating on the work, means for rotating the cylinder, an endless travelling bolster movable in a direction the reverse of the direction of movement of the cylinder, a freely rotatable pneumatic bed roll for supporting the bolster against the thrust of the bladed cylinder, and a rotary member for yieldingly backing the pneumatic bed roll.

8. In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating on the work, an endless travelling bolster for presenting the work to the bladed cylinder, a pneumatic bed roll for pressing the bolster against the periphery of the cylinder, said pneumatic bed roll being freely rotatable and located within the bolster, and a rotary member contacting with one run of the bolster and operative to press against the pneumatic roll to back the latter and to control the tension thereof.

9. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating on the work, means for rotating the cylinder, an endless bolster movable in a direction the reverse of the direction of movement of the cylinder, a pneumatic bed roll for supporting the bolster against the thrust of the bladed cylinder, and a member for unyieldingly backing the pneumatic bed roll.

10. In amachine for operating upon hides,

skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating on the work, means for rotating the cylinder, an endless bolster movable in a direction the reverse of the direction of movement of the cylinder, a pneumatic bed roll for supporting the bolster against the thrust of the bladed cylinder, a member for unyieldingly backing the pneumatic member, and means for adjusting the backing member to vary the tension on the pneumatic bed roll.

.11. In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a bladed cylinder for operating on the work, an endless bolster for presenting the work to the bladed cylinder, a bed roll for pressing the bolster against the periphery of the cylinder, said bed roll being located within the bolster, and a rotary member contacting with one run of the bolster and operative to press against the bed roll to back the latter and to control the tension thereof whereby adjustment of the rotary member toward the bladed cylinder effects an increased yielding tension of the bolster.

12. In a. machine for operating upon hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a bladed cylinder stationary in space, and work presenting means movable from work receiving position into co-operative relation with respect to the cylinder, said work presenting means comprising a pair of rollers, an endless bolster passing around the rollers to be driven thereby, a bed roll within the bolster, and a roller arranged to press upon a portion of the bolster to transmit pressure to the bed roll, whereby the tension of the bolster and the pressure of the bed roll upon the bolster at the place of the thrust of the tool may be adjustably controlled.

13. In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a tool having a blade for operating on the work, work presenting means comprising a pair of oscillatory arms, rollers mounted on the arms, an endless bolster passing around the rollers, a bed roll within the bolster, levers carried by the arms, a roller carried by the levers for pressing upon the bolster to transmit pressure therethrough to the bed roll, the bed roll being operative to support the bolster against the thrust of the tool, and means for moving the arms and the work presenting means from work receiving to work presenting position and in a reverse direction.

14. In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leather and other like pieces of work, a tool having a blade for operating on the work, work presenting means comprising a pair of oscillatory arms, rollers mounted 011 the arms, an endless bolster passing around the rollers, a bed roll within the bolster, levers carried by the arms, a roller carried presenting means from Work receiving to work presenting position and in a reverse direction, and a pinch r011 arranged to c0- 10 operate with the bolster to feed the Work past the tool. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALEXANDER HElNRlCl-l KEHRHAHN. 

